We are excited to announce that WIDE ANGLE’s online series of short documentary films, called FOCAL POINT, is nominated for a 2010 Webby Award!

Like WIDE ANGLE, the FOCAL POINT series offers a deeper understanding into the forces shaping the world today through compelling human stories, with FOCAL POINT providing a venue for shorter, less formal pieces.

“We had ten broadcast hours per season, and yet we were seeing countless proposals for films with important stories to tell,” said WIDE ANGLE Senior Producer, Nina Chaudry, who created the series. “We thought, why not develop them to be showcased online?”

Recent episodes followed a North Korean defector who is now a high school student in South Korea, and two workers at the Waterford Crystal Factory in Ireland as they fight to save their jobs and a bit of Irish heritage. Earlier episodes featured stories from Pakistan and Zimbabwe. (See the full FOCAL POINT series here.)

FOCAL POINT episodes are produced in collaboration with independent filmmakers, including both veteran Wide Angle producers and emerging filmmakers from around the globe.

As one of only five nominees for Online Film & Video – News & Politic Series, we are eligible for two of the Internet industry’s most sought-after prizes. In addition to the Webby Award, we have a chance to win the Webby People’s Voice Award – and for this we need your vote! You can vote online. Voting is underway, and ends on April 29th. Winners will be announced on May 4th.